Lagos govt converts COVID-19 isolation centre to LASUCOM

The Lagos State Government has transformed the former COVID-19 isolation centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, into an academic facility for the Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM. State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, announced this during the facility's handover, highlighting the initiative's goal to boost healthcare professional training and tackle the national shortage of medical personnel.

Abayomi explained that the shortage has been exacerbated by the exodus of healthcare workers and the limited capacity for local training, with the state aiming to increase its annual healthcare training intake from under 500 students to approximately 2,500 in the next four to five years. "While everyone talks about brain drain, Lagos State is focusing on brain gain," Abayomi stated, emphasizing that the strategy would not only enhance local training opportunities but also entice Nigerian professionals working abroad to return with their acquired skills and experience.

The renovated facility has expanded LASUCOM's capacity by adding 315 laboratory positions, 520 lecture seats, and about 169 seminar seats to its existing facilities. Abayomi also revealed that the state government is striving to establish a separate University of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the enabling bill already passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

LASUCOM's Provost, Prof. Olufemi Idowu, welcomed the facility's conversion as a welcome development, while the institution's Deputy Provost, Prof. Sunday Soyemi, noted that the expanded space would address about 30 percent of LASUCOM's current space challenge. The original COVID-19 isolation centre was constructed in 2019 and subsequently renovated and expanded to create a modern environment for healthcare professional training.